New Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship Executive Director appointed

Diane Durance, a veteran of 19 years leading government, university and non-profit business-development organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest regions, has been named as the incoming Executive Director of the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship (GCFE). 

Located within James Madison University's College of Business, the GCFE exists to help students pursuing any major across the JMU campus connect their vision for a business or non-profit venture with the steps necessary to bring it to life. 

Durance's appointment takes effect September 2. She will succeed Suzanne Bergmeister, who is retiring. "It's really impressive what Suzanne has accomplished in her four years at the GCFE," Durance said. "I'm so excited to be stepping into the momentum she has created."

Durance especially commends the contributions of the College of Business's alumni network. While researching the GCFE opportunity, Durance described herself as "super-impressed with the way successful entrepreneurs who graduated from JMU give back." She says the "dynamic and culture" they create is "very attractive to me."

Durance joins the GCFE after several years as an independent consultant providing expert guidance to entrepreneurial support organizations and startups in Michigan.

Prior to that, she served as the director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. While at UNC Wilmington, she led cross-campus and regional collaborations, launched a mentor network, championed economic development and helped grow new ventures in sectors ranging from software and renewable energy to healthcare and marine sciences.

Durance also taught entrepreneurship in UNC Wilmington's Cameron School of Business and graduate economic development in its College of Arts & Sciences. She holds baccalaureate and master's degrees from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

“We are thrilled to welcome Diane to the helm at the Gilliam Center," said Michael Busing, dean of the College of Business. “Her experience at UNC Wilmington and deep understanding of both the entrepreneur and venture-capitalist perspectives will be especially valuable as the GCFE continues to evolve and commands an ever-greater share of national attention.”